NEVADA CITY, Calif. — Sierra Streams Institute (SSI), in partnership with the California Naturalist program, is now accepting registrations for its Advanced Ecology Training course this fall, a hands-on introduction to the science of streams designed for community members, students, and anyone curious about the waterways that shape Nevada County.
The course is organized into two sections, each pairing an evening lecture with a Saturday field day. Section 1, focused on the physical and chemical science of streams, begins with a lecture on Wednesday, October 21, from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by a field day on Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Section 2, which covers the biology of streams, includes a lecture on Tuesday, October 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., and a field day on Saturday, October 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No previous education experience is required!
Lectures will be held at SSI’s office at 1117 New Mohawk Road in Nevada City, with field days taking participants out to local waterways to apply what they’ve learned. Participants are encouraged to carpool to field sites, as transportation is not provided.
“This course is really about giving people the tools to read a stream — to understand what’s happening physically, chemically, and biologically in the water that runs through their own backyard,” said Sol Henson, California Naturalist Instructor at SSI. “Whether someone wants to get involved in local monitoring work or just deepen their connection to the watershed, this training opens that door.”
Past participants have echoed that sentiment. One course attendee from 2025 said the training “opened a whole new perspective of fieldwork and also about the creeks and rivers,” while another noted that the fieldwork component was “an exceptional experience,” adding that “being able to learn the steps to identifying in the lab was superior.”
Another past participant pointed to the course’s broader value, saying it demonstrated “the complexity of river systems and the significant number of disciplines that could be called upon to expand our knowledge.”
Registration is open now. The cost is $125 for both sections or $75 for a single section, with sliding-scale pricing available.
Full registration details, payment links, and required forms are available by contacting SSI at cnssi@sierrastreamsinstitute.org or by visiting sierrastreamsinstitute.org/calnat, which also includes answers to frequently asked questions about the course.
About Sierra Streams Institute
Sierra Streams Institute is a Nevada City-based nonprofit dedicated to watershed science and education in the Yuba and Bear River watersheds. Since 1995, SSI has combined long-term ecological monitoring, habitat restoration, and community-based education to support healthy streams and rivers throughout Nevada, Yuba, Sutter, and surrounding counties.